Page 37 of You Can Make Me (Carnival of Mysteries #28)

Nineteen

D enny

I finally understood why Cooper was surprised about my, what did he call it?

Penchant for casual nudity? I never would have thought twice about hanging out with my Marine buddies in my skivvies, but these guys looked at me different.

Not, like, inappropriate. More like it meant something different to them.

Got it.

I excused myself to shower, and when I came back, fully dressed this time, Dane had a plate ready for me and everyone was sitting around the table chatting and laughing.

My heart soared to see Cooper talking excitedly with these men who I knew would be good for him.

Cooper needed to resuscitate his social life as well as his career, and this group of men were exactly the kind of caring, understanding, and intelligent people he should know in case…

A sharp pain lanced my chest, and I rubbed at the spot.

Good for him if something happens to you.

Fuck, I didn’t want to even think about that, but it was true.

The previous night’s little episode was a reminder of my vulnerability, and I hated it.

It wasn’t fair. We’d been through so much.

I needed to find the sweet spot between cautious and optimistic when it came to our future together.

I had to be positive for Cooper, even if I had my own worries.

It was as if I’d brought something back from that little nightmare to have me quaking in my boots, and I hated it.

I took my seat next to him and thanked Dane for the breakfast with a prayer hands gesture. Cooper reached over to squeeze my leg but continued his back and forth with the guys about their new collaboration, Ryan Wells and The Travellers.

“Wait, do you prefer Dane or Dee Dee?” he asked, his eyes wide.

Dane wrinkled his nose. “I don’t mind either of them, but if there’s more than just us around, it’s gotta be Dee Dee. Not that we’ve been around too many people other than Gene and Sam, our moms, Walter’s kids, and Walter’s ex-wife Lisa. Things will be different when we go out on tour.”

Dane’s smile faded a tad, but Kal reached over to pat his hand. Dane leaned back in the chair and hugged his knees in front of him.

“Are you happy to be back playing? Touring? I guess it will be very different than what you’re used to.

The technology for sure is different.” Cooper’s tone was gentle and kind, which was what always won him the respect and trust of the people he interviewed.

I hoped it worked the same with potential friends.

“Yeah. The whole time jump has taken a lot to get used to.”

“I can only imagine,” Cooper breathed, leaning forward. I figured he’d be fascinated by Dane and his tale, just as I was.

“So what do we know?” Ryan asked, and the table got quiet. He addressed his question to Dane and me.

“They should have the ID on that body they found sometime today, but Walter is convinced it’s not Evans.”

“It’s not,” Kal said, and all eyes turned on him. He cleared his throat. “I’ve dreamt of him.”

Cooper gasped. “I have, too.”

“So have I,” Dane admitted. “But I can’t tell where he is. It’s not like last time. He knows I can find him, so he’s masking his presence somehow.”

Bastard. This helpless feeling was not attractive on me. How the fuck was I supposed to fight an enemy I couldn’t catch by the usual methods?

“So we use the board,” Kal said.

Cooper’s eyes flared, and he looked to me.

“I don’t know,” Dane said, rubbing at the scar on his cheek. “I’m afraid to go in unless I’m confident he won’t be able to get to us.”

“What’s it like?” Cooper’s voice was so quiet.

The men didn’t speak for several beats. Ryan cursed and stood from the table. He squeezed Kal’s shoulder. “I’m grabbing some water. Anyone want any?”

Dane and I both raised a hand, but the silence hovering above us was ominous.

“You mean the carnival or the board?”

Cooper put his hands in his lap. “I don’t know what’s okay to ask. I want to help, but after last night… I feel like the hair is still standing up on the back of my neck. Something changed last night. I’m…afraid.”

I rested my arm on the back of Cooper’s chair, and he leaned closer to me. I could do so little to support him through this part. All this woo-woo shit was giving me fucking heartburn.

“I’m not going to let anything happen to you, baby,” I said, kissing his forehead. “This motherfucker will never get close enough to even breathe the same oxygen as you. I swear to God.”

He nodded, but his eyes were wide as if we both knew I might not be able to keep that promise. He started to speak, but there was a knock at the door.

“I got it,” I said, when Dane started to stand. “And listen up. While Walter’s gone, I’m going to keep tight security on this place. No in or out without checking with someone else, and no one goes anywhere alone, got it?”

Kal’s eyebrows rose. “What about you?”

I lifted the hem of my shirt to show my Sig Sauer in my belt holster and winked at him. “I’ll clean up the dishes when I’m done, Dane. You guys just relax.”

He smiled at me, but the fear was there in his eyes, just like Cooper’s.

Fuck.

This needed to end.

I walked into the foyer and checked the app Walter set up on my phone. I clicked through all the cameras. The front door camera showed?—

Dax?

My stomach turned sour. Shit. I knew the guys had talked to him and that he was back at work, but what was he doing here? I didn’t want him having anything to do with the guys at all.

I used the mic on the porch camera.

“Detective Brown, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

I watched as he looked around and then at the camera with a frown.

“Den! Hey, man. You guys okay? Walter sent me to check on you.”

“You’re a little out of your jurisdiction, Detective.” My tone was teasing, but this felt all kinds of wrong.

He chuckled and stepped back a bit. “I am, yeah. Man, it’s good to hear your voice. I’ve got the results of the ID. I was headed to meet with Detective Ramos from LAPD. Walter thought you might want to join me, get caught up on the investigation.”

That sour feeling was not eased by his words. Walter asked me to stay, to keep our men safe. He would have called me himself if the plan changed. Or Gene would have. I double checked to make sure they hadn’t, and I did see a missed call from the sheriff’s department main line. Huh.

I certainly wasn’t going to have Dax in the house. Whatever the situation between him and Walter, I knew damn well Dane would not feel comfortable around him, and no way did I want him around Cooper.

I opened the door and stepped outside, locking the door behind me with the keypad.

Dax’s eyes flared and he smiled.“It’s so good to see you.” He stepped forward to hug me, but I stiffened and reached out a hand instead. His smile fell, but he took it and tried to recover. “Congrats on your retirement, too. That’s huge. Thought you’d work forever.”

His laughter was forced, and I noticed a bead of sweat on his temple.

The churning in my gut was strong. I wished I’d checked my trusty pain-in-the-ass oracle on the shelf before I opened the door.

Look at me gettin’ down with the woo-woo.

“Guess not. What information did you have?”

He frowned the slightest bit in confusion and then smiled again, too big for his face. “Oh, right. I was going to go share it with the task force. How about you ride in with me?”

He was acting a little manic for my taste.

I rested my hand on my piece and smiled back. “I’m kind of in the middle of something right now. I’m sure I can get the deets from Walter. I’m guessing he’s coming down?”

He shifted on his feet.

His gaze darted to my hand.

“Don’t,” was the only warning I got before Dax drew his weapon on me—but then I was hit in the back. With ten thousand volts.

Pain coursed through my body and I collapsed on the porch.

“Come on. We don’t have much time.”

Who the fuck was he talking to?

Before I lost consciousness, I hit the panic button Walter gave me and shoved it down the back of my pants. It notified him and the police. It also locked down the house.

No ins or outs. Our precious cargo was safe.